At seventeen weeks pregnant, you start to see some more big changes. Your baby starts storing body fat and working on her swallowing and sucking skills, and you might start to feel the first flutters of movement. We spoke to midwife, Lesley Bland, to find out everything you need to know about any pregnancy symptoms and what to expect at 17 weeks pregnant for your baby and your body.
How many months is 17 weeks pregnant?
17 weeks in months means you're in your fourth month of pregnancy. You're edging close to half way and may be looking forward to your 20 week ultrasound which is usually carried out between 18 weeks and 21 weeks pregnant.
Baby development at 17 weeks pregnant
How big is my baby at 17 weeks pregnant?
Your little one is now around five inches long, or about the size of a pomegranate which means they could still fit in the palm of your hand. They should also weigh about five ounces now, which is just a little bit heavier than a £2 coin!
What’s my baby doing at 17 weeks pregnant?
Your baby's body
Midwife, Lesley Bland, tells us, "your baby is starting to grow and will be now above the pelvis meaning you may soon start to feel some small movements. Your placenta will also be growing to provide your baby with all the nutrition it needs."
At 17 weeks, your baby’s body is coated with hair called lanugo, which helps to keep them warm until they have enough body fat. They'll also be covered in vernix – a waxy substance that protects the skin from the amniotic fluid they're floating in at the moment. When baby's born, you’ll see some of the vernix still on the skin, but your midwife will usually rub most of it off with a towel.
Baby's heart is now regulated by the brain, which means it’s not beating so randomly any more, but will still be beating about twice as fast as yours. As we mentioned last week, a lot of baby's time spent in the womb is practising the skills they’ll need on the outside, and this week, they’ll be honing the sucking and swallowing skills in preparation of that first feed.
If you had a scan now, you could know your baby's gender at 17 weeks but don't worry if you just can't wait to find out - your 20 week ultrasound scan will come around soon.
Another cute addition this week? They'll develop fingerprints!
Your pregnancy symptoms at week 17
Heartburn or indigestion
You might have shaken off the morning sickness and extreme tiredness, but unfortunately this side effect isn’t going anywhere. "As your pregnancy progresses and your baby grows, your growing womb puts pressure on your stomach, making heartburn symptoms worse. The frequency and severity of heartburn increases as your pregnancy advances. It is estimated that around 40% of women will suffer with it during the second trimester. If you're affected ask your Midwife or GP for advice" says Lesley.
Increased appetite
Some women find at this stage their appetite goes into overdrive! Don’t be surprised if you’re suddenly feeling hungrier than ever before, it’s a sign your baby is getting bigger and hungrier too! That said, remember eating for two isn’t to be taken literally and that you should only be gaining around four pounds a month during pregnancy.
Loose teeth
Did you know hormones can affect the ligaments and bones in your mouth, which can make your teeth feel wobbly or even fall out. If you do lose teeth, contact your dentist straight away (before the tooth fairy!).
Itchy breasts or stomach
As your baby grows, your skin stretches thinner to compensate. This can make your skin feel sensitive and irritated. Avoid scratching and use a good moisturiser or a stretch mark cream (like Bio-oil).
Back pain
Pregnancy backaches can be a painful symptom throughout pregnancy and at 17 weeks pregnant, lower back pain could well be starting to show. Right now your ovaries are also releasing a hormone called relaxin. As the name suggests, it relaxes ligaments and joints in your body in preparation for birth when you need the muscles and joints in your pelvis to be flexible to allow your baby out. This loosening of the joints can also increase the risk of you getting backache, and you need to be careful when you exercise as you could strain muscles more easily.
Ease this common symptom by making sure you have a firm mattress and placing a cushion behind your back when sitting down. Ask other people to lift anything heavy, and if you do have to lift things, remember to bend at the knees.
Breast Growth
They aren't stopping any time soon! All of the activity going on in your body, paired with an increase of blood flow can mean you grow up to three cup sizes during pregnancy.
Haemorrhoids (Piles)
As your baby, placenta and womb grow extra stress is put on your blood vessels which can cause them to swell and become itchy, achy, and sore. Haemorrhoids are usually non-concerning, and your GP can advise how to relieve the discomfort. Lesley suggests "a heathy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and keeping well hydrated can help to avoid constipation which can make haemorrhoids worse."
Rapid Weight Gain
You are likely to have gained between 5 and 10 pounds already. During the second trimester, gaining about a pound or two a week is normal. However, if you are rapidly gaining weight for no reason, consult your GP.
Stretch marks
Now your body begins to grow, stretch marks can be common. Lesley notes that "it is estimated that 50-90% of women will have them. They are caused by the rapid growth of parts of the body causing the collagen and elastin in your skin to be torn. The tearing and stretching makes the blood vessels below the skin’s surface to be more visible hence the marks appearing red and angry." If you are suffering with stretch marks already, take a look at these creams to help prevent any more from appearing.
Strange dreams
Strange dreams are a common side effect of pregnancy. It can be down to the hormonal changes in your body or the general anticipation and nerves. With this in mind, check out the 5 most common pregnancy dreams and what they mean.
Headaches
These have appeared on the common symptoms list for the past few weeks, and are a common culprit to look out for. They occur because of the surge of hormones and the increase in blood volume. Stress and poor posture can make headaches worse, so try and relax as much as possible.
Your body at 17 weeks pregnant
Your bump at 17 weeks pregnant
By week 17, your body is showing signs of being pregnant. You’ll probably notice it’s not only your belly getting bigger, but your hormones and milk-producing glands are also developing to get your body ready to feed your baby.
Those hormones can also make you feel more overwhelmed by things and the NHS notes that around 1 in 10 women feel stressed or anxious during their pregnancy. If you're feeling stressed or anxious, let your doctor or midwife know.
At 17 weeks, your baby still has quite a lot of space in your belly to move around, but fairly soon you'll start to feel it move about as it becomes bigger. It's perfectly normal to feel no movement at 17 weeks pregnant - most women first feel their baby moving from around 18 weeks - 24 weeks and this can feel like flutters at first. You're more likely to feel baby moving after a meal and when you're relaxed. You could try rubbing your bump and talking to baby as this can also make them move around.
Looking after yourself at 17 weeks pregnant
Mental health
As mentioned above, this period of your pregnancy can leave you feeling out of sorts. As Lesley says, "for some women this can be an anxious time as they feel upset about losing their pre-pregnancy figure, start to worry about financial implications of having a baby, or have other concerns around pregnancy." It's important to talk to some if you're starting to feel this way. "If you feel like this it is important to open up to someone you can trust to avoid small problems become big ones which can lead to more serious depression. Your Midwife, GP, Perinatal Mental Health Team, friends, and family may all be able to offer support and advice, you may be surprised to learn how common anxiety is during pregnancy and how much help is available" notes Lesley.
Pelvic Floor Exercises
As your pregnancy progresses, it's important to remember to do your pelvic floor exercise to both prepare your body for birth and reduce the chances of suffering from stress incontinence afterwards.
Other things to consider at 17 weeks pregnant
Scan appointments
This start of your second trimester should be a time to start really enjoying your pregnancy and starting some early preparation. In a couple of weeks you may be having your 20-week ultrasound scan, if you have accepted it, where the Sonographer will be taking an in-depth look at your baby’s major structural and internal organs. They can also check things such as the location of your placenta and the blood flow through the umbilical cord between you and baby.
Your next appointment with your midwife will be scheduled for 25 weeks, if this is your first baby, or 28 weeks if this is a subsequent baby, to go over scan results and to start discussing plans for your third trimester, labour, birth, and the postnatal period. But remember these appointments are the minimum you will be seen and if you need additional support or appointments you can request these, or contact Maternity Assessment Centre if you have any pregnancy-related concerns.
Vaccinations
Lesley notes that "from 16 weeks of pregnancy you are eligible for the Whooping Cough vaccination which is advised during each pregnancy. Ideally you should aim to have this before 34 weeks if you accept it as the aim is for it to cross the placenta to baby to provide them with coverage against Whooping Cough until they start their own vaccination programme at about 8 weeks of age."
Telling your employer
Around this stage of pregnancy may also be a suitable time to have a conversation with work about your pregnancy and from 20 weeks you can be issued with your MatB1 certificate which entitles you to Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from your employer or Maternity Allowance (MA) from the Job Centre. Legally you do not need to tell you employer about your pregnancy or about plans to take Maternity Leave until 15 weeks before your Expected Due Date (EDD), but some women prefer to do this earlier so that an appropriate workplace risk assessment can be put in place. "Your employer has a legal obligation to give you time off to attend antenatal appointments; it is important that you attend all appointments to check on the wellbeing of both you and your baby" says Lesley.
About the expert
Lesley Bland is a Registered Midwife and Consultant Midwife for My Expert Midwife. She began her Midwifery career working in large teaching hospitals rotating through all clinical areas with particular emphasis on antenatal and intrapartum care. Lesley qualified as a mentor of students and developed a passion for education specialising as a Clinical Educator teaching the maternity multidisciplinary team.
Stephanie Spencer is the Hub Editor at Mother&Baby and auntie to four aged 8 to 6 months old. With a particular interest in health, she loves discovering products that make parent’s lives easier.